Sonnendeck

Sonnendeck

Horses rearing, bouncing, shaking heads, snoring and dancing impatience was the start of the Olympic Endurance race. Mikaela had a hard time controlling Marals speed, who did his new trot-canter mixture with so much enthusiasm, that at a vet stopped them on the track to make sure that the horse, that was known for his gentle calmness, had no injury.

“Have trust, doc, this happens because of my collegues new training style. She trains him on short distance races with one of the TB. He need get used to endurance race again.”

The vet looked at her and it made her feel like a schoolgirl who forgot to learn the poem for a recititation test. I know what I do!

What followed then, could be worth an appeal in front of the Olympic court. The vet waved her hand to get them going followed by a little friendly clap on the flank of the horse. The hooves of Marals strong hindlegs hammered into the dirt beneath him and then the horse exploded forward into pure speed. Mikaela saw herself falling already and was scarily reminded of her kissing the dirt road of a certain western city some weeks ago. With neckbreaking speed they flew along the track, some spectactors cheering while they passed them. Some men nodding, now that was a race…

Maral kept the unusual speed and passed all other participants and Mika lost sight of the former first within three minutes. Maral’s hoofs were thundering too loud on the surface to understand what the others were muttering. And to hell goes the great pride of Dark Lake Stables.

“Don’t take it too seriously. See it as a training ride.” Said the Boss on the drive to Austria some days ago. Mika stared at him. R_E_L_A_X… said by the Boss and don’t be too serious... The world is seriously going to hell.
“I know why he said that.” had one of the DLS riders whispered. “He knows we do not stand a chance, so we should keep up with our image that we are invincible, > if we were really trying <. You are supposed to make it look like the competitors are beneath our level.”

The rows of vine, and the low bushes vanished behind them and they followed the road leaving the other entrants in clouds of dust. The sun was mercilessly heating up the world around them, but there seemed no need for Maral to stop. Mikaela thought of Anna’s adventure, when she had to run after Kaldrosa. Maybe its this place that makes them run… Suddenly bushes became small thickets and soon she was among high trees in the soothing cold of a lush green forest. Maral fell into trot and then started walking along the path, he was snorting frequently and Mika used up two water bottles to give him some cooling. The birds were singing somewhere in the green dome.

Mikaela looked at her map and estimated, they had made about 8 or 9 km on their way in record worthy time. She let the reins hang loose and piloted the horse up and down steep hillsides, when suddenly the light broke through the roof of leaves and through a big stone gate on a hilltop. Ooohoooooooooo made Mikaela and stopped Maral a bit next to the race course and searched her saddle bag for her phone. Her hand grabbed the ear phones too. Well… relax…

The first opponent came by looking at them checking if they could help, but then rode on shaking her head. Maral started prancing again once he gained sight of the other horses. This horse would run until he dropped dead if you let him.
A women on a black Mountaineer horse turned around:
“If you're there for sightseeing and not the competition, then why spend money on entrance fees?” “Come one, if she doesn’t want to win then, fine with me!” another replied almost dragging the other on. “Whaaat, that’s like paying for tickets for a football match to investigate the showers!?” “That’s so typical of that stable, they only want to show us how little they care about competing with us!” Mikaela understood faintly as they rode on.

Oh dear Boss… she thought when all other entrants finally passed and she could safely go on without being in the way. Marals ears turned around and forward as he enjoyed the view of their funny trail ride…

Music suggestion: Sonnendeck by Peter Licht www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P1h4w… (It’s difficult to translate anything of it into English. It’s literally translated as “sun deck” and for me it sounds like a musical version of “no worries” . Imagine Mikaela singing: If am an not here, I am on the sun deck… I am I am Iam .. Or maybe I am inside of an Aquarium… so happy nonsense XD with a great beat to have a relaxed ride. )

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Category entered: Endurance
Horse's full name: DLS Maral
Starting Number: 012
Horse's age: 8 years
Horse's breed: Akhal Teke
Link to the horse's ref: www.deviantart.com/art/DLS-Mar…
Rider's full name: Mikaela Stefánsdottír
Rider's age: 34 years
Country: Germany
Stables: Dark Lake Stables
Area: Paulaner monastery ruins near Salföd, about 10 km behind the start
Day: Three (one of the endurance race)

As well as Nattvik's Karl III Johan and Helena, by *cyprussian and LoKS Frühlingserwachen and Nikita Beel by ~darkcentaur